Detroit Red Wings Sign Ex-Vancouver Canucks Fan Favorite Defensemen to New Contract

The offseason has provided unrestricted free agents an opportunity to look for a new challenge heading into the 2025-26 season and while we've seen a number of former Vancouver Canucks head overseas, some have decided to remain in North America to continue to chase their dream of winning a Stanley Cup.

So far this summer, defenseman Noah Juulsen signed with the Philadelphia Flyers, which reunites him with Rick Tocchet, while Pius Suter inked a multi-year deal with the St. Louis Blues.

As the summer rolls along, another former Vancouver Canuck, who spent parts of two seasons with the club, has found his new home in the National Hockey League for the upcoming season.

In a social media post on Friday, the Detroit Red Wings announced that they've agreed to terms on a one-year contract worth $1 million USD with unrestricted free agent defenseman & former Vancouver Canuck, Travis Hamonic.

Hamonic, 34, spent parts of the last four seasons as a member of the Ottawa Senators, who back in 2024, reportedly considered buying out the final year of his contract, but opted against doing so, allowing him to suit up for 59 games in 2024-25 before becoming a UFA on July 1st.

It's unclear where Travis Hamonic is going to fit in on the Detroit Red Wings' blue line, especially since they have a little bit of a logjam back there, with Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson, Ben Chiarot, Albert Johansson, Erik Gustafsson, Jacob Bernard-Docker and Justin Holl all expected to be on the team's opening night roster, barring an injury or two.

If that's the case, then Hamonic could be looking at a seventh or even eighth defenseman role with the Red Wings and may not feature in their lineup every game, which could prove to be frustrating for the 15-year NHL veteran.